5 Netflix Shows That Are Perfect For Fans Of ‘The Hunting Wives'

Forbes

2 hours ago

The internet has been buzzing with chatter about the perfectly twisted, sex-fueled Netflix binge, The Hunting Wives. The steamy sex scenes made headlines, but it was also the gripping plot and fabulous cast, including Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, Katie Lowes, Jaime Ray Newman, Chrissy Metz, and Dermot Mulroney, that kept viewers hooked and hoping for a season two.
The story centers on a group of gun-toting socialites in the small town of Maple Brook, East Texas, known as The Hunting Wives. These women don't work; they 'wife.' They're out preying on anyone who gets in their way, even if it's someone in their frenemy group. These ladies who lunch have a lot of sex, are very good at getting into trouble, and even become involved in murder.
The eight-episode series, based on May Cobb's bestselling novel of the same name, was adapted for TV by showrunner, writer, and executive producer Rebecca Cutter, who loved Cobb's book and knew it would make a great show. If you're a fan, her series Hightown is also available for streaming on Netflix.
Although there has been no word on a second season yet, given the outcry, it's likely to be announced soon. So, what can fans watch in the meantime? Fear not, Netflix has you covered!
The Waterfront
Series creator and showrunner Kevin Williamson was inspired by real-life events when he penned this sexy crime drama about a wealthy and powerful family pushed to the edge when their empire faces collapse.
For decades, the Buckley clan has ruled Havenport, North Carolina, dominating everything from the local fishing industry to the town's restaurant scene. Their fishing empire starts to crumble as patriarch Harlan Buckley (Holt McCallany) recovers from two heart attacks, and his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) venture into the deep end to keep the family businesses afloat.
His father, Williamson explained in a sit-down interview, made the mistake of getting involved in illegal activities when he ended up in dire financial straits. 'He was a very good man who was trying to support his family,' he said in part, adding that this was not a one-time incident and led to a multi-year prison sentence, of which he served 11 months in a minimum security prison. 'I think when it comes to feeding and supporting your family, you would do anything.'
The Buckley family at the heart of the eight-episode story is in a similar situation. Though the characters are fictional and some of the plot points are exaggerated, Williamson clarified that the impetus of the story was based on his father's struggles and choices.
Though a huge hit, there is no official word on a second season. Williamson has stated he has plenty of ideas for future storylines, so there's hope!
Sirens
Molly Smith Metzler's limited series about a woman hellbent on saving her sister from a life she doesn't want saving from became an immediate hit, garnering five Emmy Award nominations. The five-episode series also spent eight weeks on the Global Top 10 charts and reached No.1 in over 70 countries.
Centered on the Greek mythology of sirens, the story follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who thinks her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore).
Devon believes Michaela's cult-ish life of luxury has become a drug to her younger sister, and she shows up to save her. What happens next takes place over one explosive weekend at Peter (Kevin Bacon) and Michaela Kell's lavish beach estate.
Sirens, said Metzler in an interview, was inspired by an eye-opening summer trip to Martha's Vineyard when she was a graduate student at The Juilliard School. That summer spent working at a yacht club was the impetus for the play-turned-television series, which marks the first project from her creative partnership with Netflix.
'I didn't know that kind of wealth existed. I'd never seen it before…the pastels and the necklaces and the kind of tribal quality that these incredibly wealthy people had. It felt like a cult,' Metzler said in part. 'I remember being taken with it and thinking their life was better than ours. I waited tables all summer, and I found it intoxicating.'
Like Metzler's previous Netflix hit Maid, this series takes a fascinating deep-dive into money, power, social class, and the clash between the haves and the have-nots.
Ginny & Georgia
Fans cannot get enough of this series, and season three was no exception. The story picked up after Georgia's (Brianne Howey) arrest for murder as she fights to save her life and family. Ginny (Antonia Gentry) is left to protect her brother Austin (Diesel La Torraca), and deal with the dramas of high school and her friends, including her love Marcus (Felix Mallard), and his twin sister, Maxine (Sara Waisglass).
This series does an excellent job of spotlighting the multitude of issues teenagers face, which has drawn in millions of fans who see themselves in these characters. The show works very closely with Mental Health America in an effort to portray these struggles with respect and accuracy.
In a paired sit-down interview, Howey and Gentry discussed the mother-daughter bond their characters share, and Howey even talked about Georgia's mental health, saying, 'I do think Georgia has narcissistic qualities. That being said, I think she's the type of narcissist who is capable of change, and that's what has been really compelling this season to see. Every character goes on a mental health journey.'
In a separate interview, Mallard and Waisglass discussed the series' spotlight on depression, especially in season three, with both of their characters. Mallard's character is also dealing with addiction issues, as well, to which he said in part, 'With something like substance abuse, depression, and mental health, I think it requires a level of care and a level of understanding, and it's a delicate topic, so to be able to approach that is important.'
Counter to her brother, Maxine is the outspoken, happy-go-lucky, popular girl who masks her loneliness and sorrow. 'I don't think depression is one size fits all. I think one of the most shocking things is when you see someone who you think is brilliant and funny and amazing and has the best energy, and you understand that they struggle with mental health. It's always a shock," Waisglass added.
Untamed
The Eric Bana-helmed mystery blew up the Netflix charts, debuting at No. 1 on the Global Top 10 charts with an impressive 24.6 million views in its first week. The limited six-episode thriller set in Yosemite also claimed the No. 1 spot in over 80 countries, prompting a quick season two pickup.
The story follows Kyle Turner (Bana), a special agent for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB), who works to enforce human law in nature's vast wilderness. The investigation of a brutal death sends Turner on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park and in his past with his former wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt).
Both spoke in separate interviews about the complicated, codependent relationship between their characters after a devastating loss. 'I thought it was beautiful and unique. When I read the interplay between them, I realized I hadn't seen that kind of relationship on screen before. It's quite often a cliché, a combative thing. In this case, people who have experienced a shared loss will be able to empathize with the dynamic of their relationship. I thought it was touching," Bana explained.
'I think these two are bonded. They were just dealt a really bad hand, but they are each other's person. There's still great love there. I think they wish the world were different and that they could be together, and they can't tolerate it, because what they share is just too painful. They're the only person that each needs and the only person that they can't have. That's torture. They're both in the middle of hell, and there's no with you, and there's no without you,' added DeWitt.
The Perfect Couple
There's nothing like a murder to put a damper on the perfect destination wedding! It's the Fourth of July weekend, and Celeste Otis is about to say 'I do' to the love of her life, who happens to be from the wealthiest family on Nantucket. But when a body is discovered floating in the harbor on the morning of what was to be the wedding of the year, suddenly every guest is a suspect.
This six-episode mini-series is based on Elin Hilderbrand's New York Times bestseller, and stars Nicole Kidman as famous mystery novelist Greer Garrison Winbury. Though Greer is used to covering up secrets, especially those of her philandering husband Tag (Liev Schreiber), she may be over her head this time around.
Directed by Susanne Bier, this fun mystery also stars Meghann Fahy (Sirens), Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Sam Nivola, and Dakota Fanning. The show's popularity spiked book sales by more than 400%, with print sales jumping 250%, putting Hilderbrand's book back onto the New York Times best-seller list six years after its initial publication.
As always, happy binge-watching on Netflix!